Imagine learning to cook on a toy stove that could heat to 260 °C. The 1930 Lionel range was as educational as it was hazardous.

AI toys, companions, and robots have been everywhere at CES this year, but among the horde of waddling plushies and light-up emoji eyes, two stood out to me. HeyMates and Buddyo are each betting that the collectible figurine boom is going to come back with…

Casio’s $429 Moflin promised me calm. I got a supposedly lovable robot nuisance.